Violin Forum/Message Board

kubasa · Member Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 212

My daughter is taking cello in school. The orchestra teacher found out that I make violins as a hobby so she invited me in to talk about violin making. I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing but it went extremely well. Lots of really, really good questions from the 6th graders! Hopefully it was a good learning experience for them. I know it was for me!

Anyway, the teacher is a very talented violinist who also plays with our local symphony. She tried out the violin that I brought along to show the students. Her comments were that she liked the way it played, she liked the way it sounded and really liked the feel of the neck. Another comment was that the fifths were perfect across the fingerboard. She mentioned that she has tried instruments in the past and has seen problems with this on instruments. That comment puzzled me and leads to my question. If you have a straight bridge, proper string height and fingerboard scoop and the neck/nut/fingerboard is on straight, why wouldn't you have good fifths across the strings? Is there something else that defines perfect fifths? Her remarks got me to wondering if I'm missing something.....sorry for the lengthy explanation.

James

Michael Darnton · Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 4:31 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure all of the things that affect fifths, but a couple are bridge height, nut height, board scoop both absolute and relative on each string, and the condition of the strings. Since it sounds like you hit it right, it seems like you should be taking measurements of those things and remembering them.
_________________
new blog at my site! http://darntonviolins.com/blog
my work sites: http://darntonviolins.com and http://darntonhersh.com

kubasa · Member Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 212

Yes, I certainly do have my measurements recorded!

When you say the condition of the strings, what do you mean? I've been thinking about it this afternoon but I'll have to say "uncle" on this one.

Michael Darnton · Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 10:20 pm Post subject:

As strings wear they become false and act strange--extra weight as rosin at one end, less weight as wear on the other, on different strings differently, resulting in behavior that's less what it should be.
_________________
new blog at my site! http://darntonviolins.com/blog
my work sites: http://darntonviolins.com and http://darntonhersh.com

Will L · Junior Member Joined: 06 Mar 2011 Posts: 22

There is a factor that fifths on the violin are usually played with the same finger, unlike every other double stop. That makes it harder to adjust when the finger isn't just right. If the violin isn't speaking or responding well, that problem will seem magnified.

Will L · Junior Member Joined: 06 Mar 2011 Posts: 22

Please excuse the double post, I have no idea why that happened. BTW, nice to see Michael posting here.